(no subject)

[ursula]

I went to a talk today by Robin Hobb (alias Megan Lindholm, alias whatever her real name is if it isn't Megan Lindholm), largely in the hopes that I would be miraculously introduced to rivendellrose, which, since my arguable-at-best extraversion did not extend to buttonholing strangers and asking them if they were named Jen, or possibly Rosalind, did not occur. The talk itself was mildly interesting, though it served largely to remind me that I know perfectly well how to become a published writer, and know just as well that I'm not going to make any serious attempt to do so, since my ambitions feature various perks such as a reliable salary and academic conferences in foreign climes. I did finish a green wool hat for nobu, and start another, which will be larger and therefore hopefully feltable.

Comments

[ursula]

I did ask her about the double names: she says that lots of fantasy writers do the same thing, in particular using different names for books in different sub-genres (as a sort of branding, I suppose) or picking one pseudonym for books written by two people collaborating.

I should admit that I haven't actually read any of her stuff. I thought about it, since I knew I was going to the talk, but it all seemed too epic.

[sildra.livejournal.com]

I haven't read any of the Lindholm stuff--it's all out of print in America, and thus rather hard to find--but I've heard it's rather less epic. Most of it is stand alone novels. I do read epic fantasy, although the epic-ness of it bothers me sometimes, and Robin Hobb is definitely my favorite epic fantasy writer. THis is partly because her books tend to be character driven, and partly because her books are considerably less epic than most epic fantasy, despite sometimes being as long (although she does confine them to trilogies, which fewer and fewer authors seem to be doing these days).

[ursula]

Ah, the dreaded Cycle . . .

I've read my share of epic fantasy, but-- other factors being equal-- recently I've not been likely to pick up a book by an unfamiliar author if it says something like "Book 1 of the Tales of Darkmere" on the cover, and I missed her in my impressionable youth.

[aelfgyfu.livejournal.com]

I have a tendency to be more likely to pick up a book that is book something in such and such series, just because it insures more books to come so my reading is not limited to a mere two hours. The most frustrating thing in the world to me is reading something, wanting more, and not being able to get it. Hmm. I guess I am quantity over quality. Oh well. :-)

[ursula]

The less time I have to read (and the more books I buy myself, as opposed to getting a library stack of seven or nine) the more demanding I am about quality.